Diabetes and Addiction

Diabetes and Addiction have many things in common.Diabetes is an illness and if not treated it will get worse.Addiction is an illness and if not treated it will get worse.With diabetes the pancreas could be considered broken and doesn’t produce the correct amount of insulin.With an addiction the brain can be considered broken and produces chemicals that cause the person to act irrationally. TreatmentIf a person with diabetes doesn’t take his insulin daily and watch his diet he will suffer grave consequences.If a person with an addiction doesn’t do his “dailies” daily and watch his internet diet he will suffer grave consequences.If a person with diabetes tries to skip his insulin shots for six days and take the full amount on the seventh day, he will probably go into shock.If a person with an addiction tries to skip his dailies for six days and then do a week’s worth of dailies on the seventh day, he will probably relapse.If a person with diabetes doesn’t report to or isn’t accountable to his doctor on a regular basis, he could miss some needed adjustments that he might need to keep him on course.If a person with an addiction doesn’t report to or isn’t accountable to his sponsor and his bishop on a regular basis, he could miss some needed adjustments that he might need to keep him on course.The Good NewsThere are diabetes support groups that meet monthly and provide information and support to their members. There is no charge to attend.There are addiction recovery support groups that meet weekly and provide information and support to their members. There is no charge to attend.A person with Diabetes can live a normal life if he takes his illness seriously and treats it on a daily basis. No one ever needs to know that someone is a diabetic. A person with an addiction can live a normal life if he takes his illness seriously and treats it on a daily basis. No one ever needs to know that someone is an addict.Conclusion

It is possible that we may not totally overcome our addiction in this life, just as a diabetic may not overcome his diabetes. But that does not mean we must continue to suffer and remain in bondage to the addiction, if we take the necessary steps to control it.

Take a moment and read the account of Alma and his people found in Mosiah 24:14-15 and see how it might apply to our situation.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease.

Some of the steps we should take to qualify for the Lord's help include:

Doing "dailies" daily. Never skip a day and make sure our dailies includes 12 Step work.

Being accountable to our bishop and a sponsor on a regular basis.

Attending recovery meetings every week. We shouldn't just attend when we have nothing better to do.